Building construction



- Sept. 5, 1933. J. H. MAAG 1,925,331

BUILDING- CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb; 11, 1951 .5 5 INVENTOR.

J 0/17: flex/y /Y a ay A TTORN E YS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1933 are!) STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to building structures, and more particularlystructures involving sheetmetal; and it is amongthe objects of theinvention to provide a construction itself comparatively light, yetcapable of carrying great loads. An-

other object of the invention is the provision of unit sectionsadaptable to factory-production and requiring a minimum of work in thefield. A further object is the provision of a structure making possibletension-portions of sheet metal and compression-portions of concrete orthe like. Other objects and advantages will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe'annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain structures embodyingthe invention, these being illustrative, however,

of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be applied.

In said annexed drawing:-

Fig. 1 is airagmentary under plan View of an embodiment of theinvention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of another form; Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 isa similar view of the construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is afragmentary transverse section showing the relation of concrete thereto;and Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views of other modifications.

In its general aspects, the invention contemplates a building structure,adaptable preferably to unit-type production, and involving spacedsheet-metal plates, one or both of which have openings and in-benttongue portions for connection to the other member, such structuresbeing sufficiently rugged to be applicable as floor panels, or roofpanels, or wall panels, in accordance with particular requirements.Concretereinforcing rods may also be associated, as desired.

Sheet-metal plates 2, 3, of suitably heavy gauge, and of over-alldimensions in accordance with the particular size-requirements to bemet, are stamped or otherwise provided with openings 4,tongue-projections 5, 6, respectively, being in-turned toward the othersheet, the sheets being suitably spaced apart. As an example, for aunit-section for I-beam centering on lines customarily occurring, anover-all dimension of 8 feet 4 inches is convenient, and the section maybe rectangular, preferably square, to such dimension. Metal or a gauge,for instance, of 1814 may be employed, heavier metal being applied whereparticular weight-loads are to be encountered, and carrying theillustration further, the openings 4 may be on the order of 1 foot 4inches square. With the upper tongues 5 turned down, and the tonguesfiof the lower plate 3 turned up, lapping where opposite, and securedtogether by desired means, for instance welding at one or more points,beam-like portions? are had, each formed by the over-lapping tongues 5,6, and affording dimensions as may be desired, for instance carrying outthe illustration, 4 inches in width by 8 inches in depth. Abouttheperiphery the lower plate 3 may be joined to the upper plate 2, beingbent up and brought into union at the edge 8, and such edge may then inturn be secured to the I-beams 9 in any suitable manner, for instance bywelding through holes in provided forsuch purpose. The unit section,thus of latticed box-like character having beam portions 7 extending inboth directions, forms a closely-knit structure braced within itself,and securely attachable to the building framing. The openings 4' may nowbe closed above in any desired manner. Preferably, cast concrete slabs10, each having a positioning shoulder 11, and fitted together at themid-line of the beam-portion 7, may be employed as the upper finishingportion for such construction. Such flooring may be completedperipherally by suitable blocks of cast concrete or the like, asdesired. A compression-portion of concrete may thus be had while thetensionportion of the structure is of metal. Beneath, or at the ceilingbelow, any suitable closure and finish may be applied, for instancemetal lathing, and plaster.

Instead of cutting fenestrations in the upper plate, it is desirable insome cases to maintain such plate'in substantially continuous expanse,and confine the cutting to the lower plate, as 95 indicated in Figs. 2and 4. In this, the upper plate 2 is substantially unbrokemand the lowerplate 3 is cut with fenestrations, and tongues 6' bent up, and as shownin Fig. 4, extending through slots in the upperplate to free terminalsthereabove. Suitable attachment may be had, as for instance byspot-welding. Concrete reinforcing-rods 12 may be applied both ways,crossing one another, and aligning with the respective 105upstandingtongues, and attachment may be had thereto by suitable means,for instance welding. In this manner, the reinforcing rods are securelytied to the plates, and in a spaced position well adapted to receive theenveloping concrete, the 110 closed upper plate forming an excellentreceiving deck therefor. As in the case above-mentioned, the metallicunit structure may also be anchored to the I-beams 9 in any suitablemanner, as by welds through holes h provided for such purpose. Theceiling finish underneath may be of any desired character, convenientlyfor instance, metal lath, and plaster.

Instead of projecting the lower plate-tongues up through the upperplate, in some instances it is preferable to turn these under againstsuch plate, as indicated at 13, Fig. 6, and attachment may be had in anysuitable manner, for instance welding. Such construction is particularlyad vantageous in many instances of roof-requirements.

While ordinarily a rectangular-section is most desirable for thebeam-portions 7 of units, in some cases I prefer to further bend thecoinponent side walls of such portions, as indicated in Fig. 7, thetongues and 6" being then brought together at a central zone,,lapping tosuch, extent as desired, and being secured together by suitable means,conveniently, for instance, welding.

As thus readily seen, structures of a light character, yet capable ofsustaining great weights, may be had, and adaptableto various positions,whether in floors, roofs, or walls, the proportioning of cut-outs andsecuring-tongues being cai pable of such ranges as circumstances maydic- 1 member, and a sheet-metal tension-portion having tongues fastenedin openings in said member.

2. A building structure, which comprises spaced sheet-metal plates, oneat least of which has openings and tongues extending through the otherplate, and concrete reinforcing rods attached to such tongues.

3. A building structure, which comprises spaced sheet-metal plates, eachplate having aligned openings and :tongues bent in the tongues of eachplate being connected r spectively with the other plate.

4. A building structure, which comprises spaced sheet-metal plates, eachplate having aligned openings and tongues cut therefrom bent in, thetongues of one plate being connected to the tongues of the other platein the space between the plates.

5-.- A build-ing structure, which comprises spaced sheet-metal plates,each plate having aligned openings and tongues projecting in, thetongues of one plate being connected to the tongues of. the other plate,inthe space between the plates, and a concrete floor portion coveringsuch openings.

6. A building structure, which comprises: spaced sheet-metal plates,each plate having aligned openings and tongues projecting inwardly, and:pre fcrmed concrete slabs positioned; over such openings, the tongues ofone sheet lapping with. and being joined to those of the adjacent sheets'7. A building structure, which; comprises spaced sheet-metal plates,each plate having, openings and tongues projecting inwardly, the tonguesof one sheet lapping with and being i oined tothose of the adjacentsheet, forming beam-like portions, and shouldered pre-fcrmed concreteblocks positioned over the openings between such beamlilte portions.

8. A building structure, which comprises a sheet-metal tension-portion:and a compressionportion of assembled pre-formed blocks of min,- eralmaterial, and hollow air-cell insulation be* tween suchtension-portionand:v compressionportion formed by openings and inturnedportions in the sheet-metal.

JGHN HENRY MAAG.

